Reviews | Gear Diary

In 2013 Take Better Notes and Be More Organized

From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. New Year Resolution: Take Better Notes, Be More Organized and Use Less Paper I am loving my Livescribe Sky Smartpen. The Livescribe Sky finally lets me get all the benefits of a Livescribe Smartpen without having to physically plug the pen into a computer to electronically recreate and share notes. (Here’s my review of the Sky Smartpen.) There are, however, times when I don’t want to carry and use the large, rechargeable smartpen- times when…

Reviews

Mophie Juice Pack Pro for iPhone 4/S Review

Tough on your iPhone 4/S? Prone to drops and breaks, and your slim case just isn’t cutting it? Want longer power for your iPhone? If you said yes to any of these questions, you might want to consider taking a gander at the Mophie Juice Pack Pro. Designed to exceed the U.S. military’s MIL-STD 810G specifications, barring any full submersion in liquid, the Mophie Juice Pack Pro will keep your iPhone safe and secure under most conditions. While lacking complete immersion protection, the case will protect your device from rain and splashes, sand and dust, vibration and shocks, as well as drops…

Reviews

Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review

If you are looking for a serious briefcase that is tough, carries a ton, and has plenty of organizational pockets — but nimbly avoids the pitfall of looking like the stuffy, square briefcase your father carried — then you’ll want to check out the Tom Bihn Zephyr. The Zephyr is built with the quality we have come to know and expect from Tom Bihn. Materials are stellar; the design takes into account the varied ways people use their bags, and the build-quality is second to none. Oh, and as is always the case with Tom Bihn bags, the Zephyr is…

Reviews

Camera FX for iPhone Review

These days it seems as if pretty much every mobile device has a camera; phones, tablets, laptops — almost anyone on the go can now take a picture when and where they want. While these small cameras are pretty good, a little software help can make them great. There are many offerings for iOS users at many price points; you do not necessarily have to spend a lot to get good results. Camera FX falls into the ‘cheaper with results’ category. Lets take a quick look. Camera FX is designed to present a DSLR like user experience. You can see…

Game Diary, Reviews

Nintendo Wii U Game System Review

The Nintendo Wii U ushers in a new wave of “next generation” video game console systems with expanded functions and convenient backward-compatible functions stemming from a sleek rectangular console and portable GamePad with screen. The Wii U had an original launch window between March 2012 and December 2012 and eventually debuted on November 18, 2012, so gamers experienced a predictable pre-order frenzy for the holiday season. The impressive high-definition graphics make a winning combination with Nintendo’s vibrantly colorful games while the lightweight GamePad with separate screen offers great gameplay/viewing options. The Wii U is currently available in the following two…

Reviews

Aranez Flip iPhone 5 Leather Case Review

Stacey just did a review of the Aranez Aquila iPhone 5 Leather Case. (Read it here.) She liked it. Mike reviewed the Aranez Book Samsung Galaxy S3 Leather Case. (Read Mike’s review.) He liked it too! Let’s go for the trifecta and look at the Aranez Flip iPhone 5 Leather Case. More accurately, let’s let my father-in-law Mark go on camera and talk about it. Mark Down South… WAY Down South When last my father-in-law (aka Gear Diary’s Grumpy Old Man) appeared on the site, he was discussing why he was finally taking the leap and getting an iPhone 5….

Game Diary, Reviews

Green Jelly for iPhone and iPad Review

Type of app: Physics/Puzzle game Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version here); available in the App Store Developer: MaxNick / G5 Entertainment Description: ? 60 Levels in three locations: Cake, Chocolate and Waffles ? Over 10 types of objects for physics-based interaction ? 20 Funny achievements to share with friends ? Cute graphics and amusing sounds ? Updates with new levels to keep you entertained ? Game Center Support ? New iPad Retina Display Support Major features: Green Jelly is a physics-based game in which you play as a green jelly candy seeking to collect up all of the candy,…

Reviews

Speck WanderFolio Luxe for iPad Review

Truth be told, I’ve always been a fan of Speck’s product design, though I haven’t owned any of their products for any of my devices. So I was very excited when I got the opportunity to review their WanderFolio Luxe iPad case. The WanderFolio Luxe is made with top-grain leather and has pockets for your travel needs, like passports, cash, cards, etc. It also has the always nice magnetic sleep/wake function that we all like to see on our iPad cases. Speaking of magnets, there is also a magnetic latch that keeps your iPad closed. Speck calls this a “smooth-close”…

Reviews

Save Money on Talk, Text, and Data in 2012 with Republic Wireless

From now until 2013, we’re going to take a look at some New Year’s Resolutions and a Gear Diary way to help you keep them. First up… New Year Resolution: Spend Less on Cellular in 2013 republic wireless offers one single handset. If you want more choices you need to go somewhere else. republic wireless offers a handset with just a 3.7″ screen. If you want something larger go somewhere else. republic wireless offers a handset running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. If you want something newer go somewhere else. While it might seem that republic wireless is the worst cellular option…

Reviews

Aranez Aquila iPhone 5 Leather Case Review

The first thing I did when I received the Aquila iPhone 5 Leather Case by Aranez, was sniff it for that real leather smell. My nose (and the case’s specifications) confirmed that this case is made from genuine cow leather. This case is extremely lightweight, yet feels sturdy enough to protect your iPhone 5 from minor drops and bangs. The right side of the case that holds the phone in place is a thin piece of molded plastic, which does its job of securely holding the phone. On the left, the case has two slots dedicated to holding credit…

Reviews

Incipio Stashback for iPhone 5 Review

This is the third of three Incipio iPhone 5 case reviews. This time out we are looking at the STASHBACK Dockable Credit Card Case. This case looks like a simple shell style iPhone 5 case but it doubles as a wallet. Better yet, it is not apparent to anyone looking at the case that it holds credit cards, ID or cash. That’s a great benefit if you want to go out for the day carrying just your iPhone. Let’s face it, we all left the house without our wallet at some time or another (some people even go to the…

Reviews

LifeProof fr? for iPhone 5 Review – Helps Keep Your iPhone Safe and Secure

I was blown away earlier this month when I went snorkeling and used my 4th generation iPod touch as my underwater camera. I expected the LifeProof case I put on would keep it dry, and it did. What I didn’t expect was how amazing the video I shot with it underwater would be. I mean, take a look at this footage shot underwater with an iPod touch!! And if that is the quality you can get with a last generation iPod touch, then just imagine how amazing the images and videos would be if taken with an iPhone 5! Fortunately LifeProof…

Reviews

Incipio Stowaway for iPhone 5 Video Review

This is the second of three Incipio iPhone five case reviews we have going up. The first case was a simple slider case that didn’t offer much excitement. This time out we’re taking a look at the Incipio Stowaway for iPhone 5. It is a far more compelling case thanks to two unique features hidden away in its seemingly simple design. First, this case can also function as a wallet. It will hold three credit or ID cards. Second, the door of the “wallet” can double as a stand for viewing the iPhone in landscape. Here’s a look. Features: Rigid…

eBooks, Reviews

Byook Enhanced eBooks Review

Various developers have been trying since the original iPad to make enhanced and video eBooks a success. There seems to be this impression that books+tablet+video=profit! Yet plain old eBooks have managed to hold their ground quite nicely, leaving the question of whether there’s really a market for a book with video, music, and other bells and whistles. Byook think they can add to the eBook reading experience, and I had the opportunity to test a few of their titles and experience the multimedia eBook for myself! My first Byook was Sherlock Holmes “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”. The Byook…

Reviews

Incipio EDGE PRO for iPhone 5 Video Review

Incipio has released a wide range of different cases for the iPhone 5. A few months ago we reviewed a number of them. Now we’ve got a look at three more. First up, is the Incipio EDGE PRO Co-molded Hard-Shell Slider Case. This is a simple slider case with a unique design. Here’s a look. Rigid Plextonium™ shell with impact resistant core Superior Protection Two-part sliding design for easy docking Access to all controls Here’s a video look with additional images in the gallery below. What’s Inside: (1) Clear Screen Protector Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Applicator Card I’m not overly…

Reviews

SGP Slim Armor Case for the iPhone 5 Video Review

I’m a fan of SPIGEN SGP’s products. From the GLAS.t screen protector (read the review) to the Hardbook Case for the iPad mini (read the review) their products never fail to impress me. So when our contact at the company emailed me that a new case was on the way and he described it as his favorite “my favorite iPhone 5 case” I couldn’t help but be curious. Turns out it is one of my favorite cases thus far as well. Better still, it is a remarkable value. Let’s take a looks at the SGP Slim Armor for iPhone 5….

Reviews, Yum Log

Baker’s Math Kitchen Scale – KD8000 – Unleash Your Inner Alton Brown Again

I’ve often said (including here on Gear Diary, I think), that in the kitchen you’re either an Alton or a Mario. “Altons” refer to Alton Brown, the Mr. Wizard of the Food Network who combines science and math with recipes to teach you how to cook and why precision is important. I’m an Alton. “Marios” are more like Mario Batali, cooks who throw in a dash of this and a sprinkle of that and never measure anything. My girlfriend is a Mario. Well, maybe she’s more of a Maria… These two archetypes can work well together in a kitchen, as…

Reviews

Ibattz Mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case Review

My first reaction when I received the ibattz mojo Hi5 Powerbank Case was underwhelming. Here you have a plastic shell that you slap on your phone like most cases, and a separate battery pack that clips onto the plastic shell that needs to be plugged into your iPhone with a lightning cable. Here’s the rub: You have to provide your own lightning cable, plus, you have to carry said lightning cable around with you if you plan on using the battery pack to charge your phone. The fault here can not lie solely on ibattz, however. A lot of the…

Reviews

Epson Expression Photo XP-850 Small-In-One Review

We recently reviewed Epson’s Expression Premium XP-800 Small-in-One Printer. (Read the review.) I was impressed. Judie and I came back from Aruba having taken a huge number of pictures. Many of them can be seen in this post on “Amazing Aruba“. Some of them are so good that I wanted to print and frame them for my home and office. A good quality photo printer is quite handy for doing just that, and while I could have used the XP-800, this presented a perfect time to test out the XP-800’s big brother the XP-850. The Epson Expression Photo XP-850 Small-In-One…

Reviews

Oberon Design iPad mini Cover Review

I’ve been a fan of Oberon Design’s products for several years, and it seems to go without saying (at least in my home) that if you have a new iPad or Kindle, you’ll probably want an Oberon Design cover to go with it. Kev has the Celtic Hounds cover in wine on his iPad 3, and I have the Van Gogh Sky cover in sky blue on my Kindle touch. I have found that there is no better leather cover available if you want to keep your device a book-style case. I was sent the latest Oberon Design cover for…

Reviews

Stay Connected to Family in 2013 with Sony’s Camera and Microphone for Skype

I’ve become increasingly enamored of video chatting. It is handy, convenient and it works well; it also saves gas and time. For example, I do most of my High Holy Day sermon writing with my friend Lawrence. We bounce ideas around, rip initial drafts apart, and share illustrations. In prior years we would get together two or three times and have marathon writing sessions together. This year we didn’t get together once; instead we used FaceTime and Skype. We didn’t need to travel, and we were able to “meet” far more times than we could have in the past. Similarly,…